GNT expands Middle East operations with new application laboratory for plant-based EXBERRY® colors
The facility will serve manufacturers using GNT‘s plant-based EXBERRY® colours in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
DUBAI – GNT Group, a leading global provider of plant-based food colors, has expanded its Middle East operations with the launch of a new application laboratory dedicated to its EXBERRY® portfolio of natural colors derived from fruits, vegetables, and plants.
This strategic investment, announced amid growing regional demand for clean-label ingredients, positions GNT to better serve food and beverage manufacturers across the Middle East by offering on-site formulation testing, colour matching, and stability trials tailored to local applications such as bakery, confectionery, dairy, and beverages.
The facility builds on GNT’s established presence in the region, highlighted by its active participation in events like Gulfood Manufacturing, where it showcased halal-certified EXBERRY® solutions as vibrant alternatives to synthetic dyes and carmine.
The new lab enables Middle Eastern clients to accelerate product development with hands-on support, from concept innovation to regulatory compliance, ensuring shades remain stable in high-heat processing common to snacks, sauces, and plant-based products.
The facility will serve manufacturers using GNT’s plant-based EXBERRY® colours across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
The facility features state-of-the-art instrumentation and local formulation expertise, with services including color matching and stability testing.
The laboratory also serves as a hub for product demonstrations, training programs, and technical consultations.
GNT’s EXBERRY® colours, non-GMO and sustainable, align with the region’s push for natural declarations amid consumer shifts toward transparency and health-focused foods, particularly in milling-adjacent bakery formulations that require consistent pigmentation.
Santhosh Thankappan, Sales Director at GNT Middle East, said: “Our goal is to empower food and drink manufacturers with local access to global expertise, giving them a space for innovation where ideas, technology, and people come together. Our new Dubai laboratory was created to help our customers perfect their processes and ensure exceptional results with plant-based EXBERRY® colors.”
Headquartered in Mierlo, Netherlands, with offices spanning Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, GNT’s expansion reflects broader ambitions, including fermentation-based colour innovations and organic range extensions such as vibrant pinks.
This move supports the Middle East’s dynamic food manufacturing sector, where urbanization drives demand for premium, naturally colored baked goods, snacks, and beverages, thereby enhancing shelf appeal without compromising performance.
By bridging R&D with industrial scalability, the lab fosters co-innovation, helping regional producers meet global standards while navigating supply chain volatilities.
In September, GNT unveiled its new algae-based Exberry Carotenes, designed to provide natural yellow shades across a wide range of food and beverage applications.
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